Getting to some old To Do's

I spent the morning dubbing old videos onto DVD. I have been meaning to get to this for quite a while. I started on old horse videos and came across my very first dressage test at Heiland Hills. Good thing we had been doing lessons there as about half way through a train came through. This train track is very, very close to the dressage arena. Tilly and I continue doing our test. My riding left very much to be desired. I had no concept of contact or bend. Tilly had to concept of obedience, suppleness or being on the bit. At one point his hind end went out over the arena decorative chain and then back in again.

Ahhhh, Tilly you are still dear to my heart. A child only a mother could love. He would do anything I asked, well mostly and without too much complaint (okay some bucking). This is the place where Tilly broke my ribs and part of my vertebrae off. Naughty boy! After that he didn't get to put a foot out of place. One should have always been that way but this is the way we learn with horses.

Looking at the sky to judge the weather on the drive to the barn, I wasn't sure where I was going to ride. From the distance it looked like it was raining. Upon arrival it was extremely gusty but it was only damp.

I am getting ready to ride in my barn again. It is very nice. I can have the radio at whatever station I want and it is quiet. Just me and Josie. I like it like that. It gives me a chance to read her and get a feel for how it may be. She improves with age like a very fine wine.

We rode up the drive and turned to go to the updoor. A gal was getting a lesson. Seemed like too much horse for her. Within minutes she got off and the trainer got on. This horse was similar to Josie by way of scowling as we pass. I remind Mare that isn't acceptable and we continue on. She is definitely more trained than last year. Our ride is wonderful. I am relaxing more and more during our canter work which Josie definitely appreciates.

She likes to peak at the red barn when we are at that end of the arena. Don't worry you got your grain and ate hay for an hour. There will be hay left still. Leg yield and actual circles was our main goal for the ride. Not so shabby if I say so myself. Trot is nice and round. Transitions up still require more work. Twenty or so days to the show plenty of time for more improvement. If we get it we get it, if not we continue the journey.

Cooling off was fun. We got the pups and wandered down to the railroad tracks and back. The pups were way full of themselves. Josie has gotten use to the crazy jacks and their mock battles.

I put Josie away and stroll to the barn to find that one of the horses is injured. He is in cart training and kicked the long pole part of which there is two and the horses stands between - can you tell I don't know much about carts? My observation inclined me to think he may have cut a tendon. I didn't say anything. There was blood every where. B was holding him while the owner waited for the vet. I found out the next day that he has to be on a month stall rest. Just missed the tendon. Very lucky on that. I do hope they give up with cart training. The last incident he was careening around the indoor. I am glad I wasn't there to see that.

A nice cold one is waiting at home . . .